"Oh no, we lost it,'' linebacker Randall Godfrey stressed. "We dominated the whole game and we just didn't make a play when we had to right at the end.''

The echo of Godfrey's remarks were heard throughout a glum Chargers locker room after blowing a game before 70,743 at M&T Bank Stadium.

"Honestly, it feels like we lost the game,'' defensive tackle Luis Castillo said. "To have control all game and be in position for it to be in our hands ---- they gave us the lead and we had it today and we couldn't find a way to finish it.''

Let linebacker Shawne Merriman finish the prevailing thought.

"We had the game in our grasp," Merriman said, "but we have to learn how to finish. That is what it is about. We knew it was going to be a 60-minute ballgame and we played 55 minutes of football.''

What a game it was ---- if your nest includes Ravens gear.

Quarterback Steve McNair hit tight end Todd Heap for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining to send the Chargers on a cross-country trip home with their chins on the ground.

"I've been in too many of these games and they get old real fast,'' LaDainian Tomlinson said in a voice just above a whisper.

Shout this out: The Chargers (2-1) lost four games last year when squandering a fourth-quarter lead. Sunday's pratfall was a reminder this team has a few miles to travel before becoming an elite NFL squad.